EP0699965B1 - Automatic document feeder - Google Patents

Automatic document feeder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0699965B1
EP0699965B1 EP95113247A EP95113247A EP0699965B1 EP 0699965 B1 EP0699965 B1 EP 0699965B1 EP 95113247 A EP95113247 A EP 95113247A EP 95113247 A EP95113247 A EP 95113247A EP 0699965 B1 EP0699965 B1 EP 0699965B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
document
controlling means
roller
forwarding
documents
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95113247A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0699965A1 (en
Inventor
Masayuki c/o Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Kakuta
Ikuo c/o Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. Shigemitsu
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Kyocera Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Mita Industrial Co Ltd
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Publication of EP0699965A1 publication Critical patent/EP0699965A1/en
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Publication of EP0699965B1 publication Critical patent/EP0699965B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/60—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals
    • G03G15/602—Apparatus which relate to the handling of originals for transporting

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an automatic document feeder to be mounted on a document processor such as an electrostatic document copying machine or an image reader.
  • an automatic document feeder which automatically feeds a plurality of documents sequentially to a document setting position on the top of a transparent panel.
  • Such an automatic document feeder comprises a document bearing means for bearing documents; a forwarding means having a forwarding roller for forwardly delivering the documents borne on the document bearing means, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the documents at the time of document delivery by the forwarding roller; a document separating means having a paper feed roller disposed downstream of the forwarding means and rotated in the direction of conveyance, and a separating mechanism disposed opposite to the paper feed roller and operated in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance; a resist roller pair disposed downstream of the document separating means to temporarily stop the document carried by the paper feed roller and carry the stopped document toward a transparent panel of a document processor; and a document conveying means for conveying the document, carried by the resist roller pair, to a predetermined position on the transparent panel and discharging the document conveyed to the transparent panel.
  • the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means is energized and the forwarding roller actuated.
  • the document separating means is actuated to carry the front end of the document borne on the document bearing means to the resist roller pair.
  • the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means is energized at the same time as the start of a copying action, and its energizing lasts for a so-called temporary paper feed period until the front end of the document reaches the resist roller pair.
  • the second or later document is stopped by the document separating means.
  • the forwarding means At the forwarding means, however, such document is about to be carried toward the document separating means owing to its friction with the document beneath it which is being carried by the forwarding roller.
  • the document borne on the document bearing means is thicker than an ordinary document and has high stiffness, it slips against the lower document being carried, thus posing no problems. If that document is thin, however, it will be carried by its friction with the lower document, thus undergoing a deflection relative to the document separating means. This deflection in turn makes wrinkles, damaging the document and causing a document jam.
  • JP-A-6-144658 discloses an automatic document feeder in which a press roller contacts a document during feed to allow a pick-up roller to reliably convey the document.
  • the fed document then passes through a pair of resist rollers and is further conveyed to a transparent plate for the copy operation.
  • the press roller remains urged against the fed document throughout the feeding process.
  • the object of this invention is to provide an automatic document feeder which carries one by one a plurality of documents laid on a document bearing means, the feeder being capable of preventing the generation of wrinkles on the document during steps other than carriage and of preventing a document jam associated with the wrinkles developing on the document.
  • the present invention provides an automatic document feeder as defined in claim 1.
  • the automatic document feeder constructed in accordance with the present invention enables the controlling means to energize the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means, actuate the forwarding roller, and actuate the document separating means in response to a copy start signal.
  • the pressing mechanism When the pressing mechanism is energized, the documents laid on the document bearing means are pressed, whereby the actuation of the forwarding roller results in the delivery of the documents toward the document separating means.
  • the documents sent to the document separating means are separated there, and only one of the documents is carried toward the resist roller pair.
  • the controlling means deenergizes the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means at least once for a predetermined time, thereby releasing the pressure on the documents laid on the document bearing means.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an upper end portion of an electrostatic document copying machine 2 and an automatic document feeder 4 mounted thereon.
  • the electrostatic document copying machine 2 has a housing 6, on top of which is disposed a transparent panel 8 (Fig. 2) optionally being a glass plate.
  • a document restraining member 10 On one side of the transparent panel 8 (the left-hand side in Fig. 2) is disposed a document restraining member 10 which determines a standard position for document setting, G.
  • On the other side thereof (the right-hand side in Fig. 2) is disposed a stationary mounting member 12.
  • the automatic document feeder 4 constructed in accordance with the present invention is mounted on the top of the housing 6 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2 so as to be free to pivot between a closed position shown by a solid line in Fig.
  • the automatic document feeder 4 is brought to the open position to expose the transparent panel 8, and the document is placed at a required position on the transparent panel 8. Then, the automatic document feeder 4 is brought to the closed position to cover the transparent panel 8 and the document placed thereon. In laying the document on the transparent panel 8, one can set the document at the required position by contacting one edge of the document with a front edge of the document restraining member 10 to bring the one edge of the document to the standard position G for document setting.
  • the feeder 4 is put to the closed position.
  • the illustrated automatic document feeder 4 includes a front cover 14 and a rear cover 16 disposed at spaced apart locations in a back-and-forth direction (the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface in Fig. 2).
  • the front cover 14 and the rear cover 16 may be formed of a suitable plastic material.
  • a rear supporting base plate (not shown), which is mounted, via a mounting mechanism (not shown) optionally of a well-known shape per se, on the top of the housing 6 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2 so as to be free to pivot.
  • Various constituent elements of the automatic document feeder 4 are supported directly or indirectly by the rear supporting base plate.
  • the document bearing means 18 comprises a document table 22 extending upwardly inclinedly from the left-hand front end to the right-hand rear end in Fig. 2, and an auxiliary table 24 rotatably mounted on the rear end of the document table 2.
  • a pair of width restricting members 26 movably in a width direction. Such a pair of width restricting members 26 are joined together, via a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown) well known per se, downwardly of the document table 22, and are moved toward and away from each other in an interlocked manner.
  • the document discharge tray 20 is disposed below the document bearing means 18, and has a document bearing surface 28 shaped like a mountain when viewed in the back-and-forth direction (the direction perpendicular to the sheet surface in Fig. 2). Between the left end portions of the front cover 14 and the rear cover 16 is disposed a left end portion cover 30, while a right end portion cover 32 is disposed between their right end portions. Inside the front cover 14 are disposed a safety switch SW1 for detecting the open and closed states of the automatic document feeder 4, a safety switch SW2 for detecting the open and closed states of the left end portion cover 30, and a safety switch SW3 for detecting the open and closed states of the right end portion cover 32. These switches are disposed in series, and when the covers are put to the closed position, and all the switches are shut, an ON signal is sent to a controlling means to be described later.
  • a document sending-in means 33 provided with a forwarding means 38 and a document separating mechanism 60 is disposed downstream of the document table 22.
  • the document sending-in means 33 has a pair of stationary plates 34, 36 extending on the downstream side of the document table 22.
  • a forwarding roller 40 constituting the forwarding means 38, and the forwarding roller 40 is situated so as to protrude slightly upwardly through an opening 42 formed on the upstream side of the stationary plate 34.
  • a pressing mechanism 44 constituting the forwarding means 38.
  • the pressing mechanism 44 is comprised of a rotating shaft 46 disposed rotatably, and a pressing plate 48 one end of which is fixed to the rotating shaft 46 and the other end of which acts on documents 50 inserted onto the stationary plate 34 after being placed on the document bearing means 18.
  • the rotating shaft 46 constituting the pressing mechanism 44 is connected to a solenoid SL1 via a link mechanism 52, so that when the solenoid SL1 is energized, the rotating shaft 46 is rotated in the direction of an arrow 56 against the spring force of a return spring 54; whereas when the solenoid SL1 is deenergized, it is rotated in the direction of an arrow 58 owing to the spring force of the return spring 54.
  • the pressing plate 48 attached to the rotating shaft 46 presses the documents 50 inserted onto the stationary plate 34, when the solenoid SL1 is energized to rotate the rotating shaft 46 in the direction of arrow 56; it is separated from the documents 50, when the solenoid SL1 is deenergized and the rotating shaft 46 rotated in the direction of arrow 58 by the action of the return spring 54.
  • a document setting switch SW4 as a document detecting means.
  • the document setting switch SW4 sends an ON signal as the first signal when the documents 50 are inserted onto the stationary plate 34 after being placed on the document bearing means 18, and an OFF signal as the second signal when the documents 50 are not placed on the document bearing means 18.
  • the document separating means 60 disposed downstream of the forwarding means 38 is composed of a paper feed roller 64 having a plurality of rollers disposed downward of the stationary plate 34 and caused to protrude upwardly through an opening 62 formed in the stationary plate 34; and a separating belt mechanism 66 disposed above the paper feed roller 64 so as to face it.
  • the separating belt mechanism 66 is disposed on the upward side of the stationary plate 36, and consists of a driving roller 67, a driven roller 68, and a plurality of separating belts 69 wound between the driving roller 67 and the driven roller 68 and disposed alternately with respect to the plurality of rollers constituting the paper feed roller 64.
  • Each separating belt 69 is caused to protrude downwardly through an opening 75 formed in the stationary plate 36.
  • the forwarding roller 40, the paper feed roller 64 and the separating belt mechanism 66 are rotationally driven in the directions of arrows 79, 80 and 82, respectively, by a driving means 78 comprising an electric motor M1 and a transmitting mechanism 76 such as a gear mechanism or an electric belt mechanism.
  • a rotational amount detecting means FG1 such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator, which constitutes a means of detecting the amount of document conveyance. Pulse signals as signals for indicating detection thereby are sent to a controlling means to be described later.
  • the so constituted document separating means 60 is adapted to prevent the simultaneous feed of two or more documents from a pile of documents laid on the document bearing means 18, and to feed only the lowermost document to a document sending-in path 98 to be described later.
  • a document stopper 84 constituted so as to be operable between an operating position where the documents 50 placed on the document bearing means 18 and inserted onto the stationary plate 34 are restrained from being inserted into the document separating means 60 side, and a retreated position where the movement of the document 50 into the document separating means 60 side is permitted, as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4.
  • the document stopper 84 is disposed on the downward side of the stationary plate 34, with its base end being fixed to a rotating shaft 86 disposed upstream of the forwarding roller 40 in parallel with the shaft of the forwarding roller 40 at spaced apart locations, and its front end being situated through an opening formed in the stationary plate 34.
  • the rotating shaft 86 with the document stopper 84 attached is actuated by a stopper driving means 87.
  • the stopper driving means 87 includes a latch type solenoid SL2, and a link mechanism 88 connecting a plunger 90 of the latch type solenoid SL2 with the rotating shaft 86.
  • the latch type solenoid SL2 may be a well known one which has a permanent magnet, an attracting coil and a separating coil. When the attracting coil is energized, the plunger 90 is attracted. In this state, when the plunger 90 is attracted by the magnetism of the permanent magnet and the attracting coil deenergized, the plunger 90 is kept attracted.
  • the separating coil is energized to separate the plunger 90 against the magnetism of the permanent magnet, whereafter deenergizing of the separating coil results in the plunger 90 being kept separated.
  • the stopper position detecting means SW5 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, providing the later-described controlling means with an ON signal as the first signal when the document stopper 84 is placed at the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line, and an OFF signal as the second signal when the document stopper 84 is put at the retreat position shown by the solid line and the shielding plate 85 is positioned between the light emitting element and the light receiving element.
  • a conveying belt mechanism 100 constituting a document conveying means is disposed below the document bearing means 18.
  • the conveying belt mechanism 100 includes a driving roller 102 and a driven roller 104 disposed with spacing in the conveying direction (the left-to-right direction in Fig. 2), an endless belt 106 wound between these rollers, and rollers 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e for rolling which are disposed between the driving roller 102 and the driven roller 104.
  • the lower traveling portion of the endless belt 106 is caused to extend along the transparent panel 8 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2, so that a document conveying path 108 is defined between the lower traveling portion and the transparent panel 8.
  • the document sending-in path 98 is formed between such document conveying path 108 and the document separating means 60.
  • This document sending-in path 98 is defined between an internal guide plate 110 and an external guide plate 112.
  • On the document sending-in path 98 is disposed a resist roller pair 114.
  • the resist roller pair 114 consists of a driving roller 116 and a driven roller 118.
  • On the document sending-in path 98 and upstream of the resist roller pair 114 is a reflector type optical document detector SW6 composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The document detector SW6 detects the document 50 passing along the document sending-in path 98, and sends a detection signal to the controlling means to be described later.
  • the driving roller 102 of the conveying belt mechanism 100 and the driving roller 116 of the resist roller pair 114 are rotationally driven by a driving means 120 comprised of an electric motor M2 capable of normal and reverse rotations, and a transmitting mechanism 118' such as a gear mechanism or a belt mechanism.
  • the driving roller 116 of the resist roller pair 114 is connected to the transmitting mechanism 118' via an electromagnetic clutch CL1.
  • a rotational amount detecting means FG2 such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator, which constitutes a means of detecting the amount of document conveyance. Pulse signals as signals for indicating detection thereby are sent to the controlling means to be described later.
  • the document reversing/discharging means 128 has a first document sending-out path 130, which is defined between a reversing roller 134 constituting a document reverse-conveying means and outside guide plates 136, 138.
  • a reversing roller 134 constituting a document reverse-conveying means and outside guide plates 136, 138.
  • On the outer periphery of the reversing roller 134 are disposed three driven rollers 135a, 135b, 135c pressed against it.
  • Downstream of the first document sending-out path 130 are provided a second document sending-out path 140 and a document reversing path 142 in a bifurcated manner. At the bifurcated portion is disposed a bifurcation controlling plate 144.
  • the second document sending-out path 140 is defined between the bifurcation controlling plate 144 and an outside guide plate 146. At the downstream end of the second document sending-out path 140 is disposed a discharge roller pair 152 consisting of a driving roller 148 and a driven roller 150. On the second document sending-out path 140 is disposed a reflector type optical document detector SW7 composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The detector SW7 detects the document 50 passing along the second document sending-out path 140, and sends a detection signal to the controlling means to be described later.
  • the reversing path 142 is defined between the reversing roller 134 and the bifurcation controlling plate 144 and an outside guide plate 154, with its downstream end facing the downstream end of the document conveying path 108.
  • a reflector type optical document detector SW8 composed of a light emitting element and a light receiving element.
  • the detector SW8 detects the document 50 passing along the document reversing path 142, and sends a detection signal to the controlling means to be described later.
  • the bifurcation controlling plate 144 has a middle portion mounted on a shaft 156, and is adapted to be operated by a solenoid SL3.
  • the solenoid SL3 When the solenoid SL3 is deenergized, it is put to a position indicated by a solid line in Fig. 2 owing to the spring force of a return spring 158. When the solenoid SL3 is energized, the plate 144 is placed at a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 2 against the spring force of the return spring 158. Therefore, the document conveyed along the first document sending-out path 130 is sent to the second document sending-out path 140 when the solenoid SL3 is deenergized, but is sent to the document reversing path 142 when the solenoid SL3 is energized.
  • the reversing roller 134 and the driving roller 148 constituting the discharge roller pair 152 are rotationally driven in directions, shown by arrows 164 and 166, respectively, by a driving means 162 comprised of an electric motor M3 and a transmitting mechanism 160 such as a gear mechanism or an electric belt mechanism.
  • a rotational amount detecting means FG3 such as a rotary encoder or a frequency generator, which constitutes a means of detecting the amount of document conveyance. Pulse signals as signals for indicating detection thereby are sent to the controlling means to be described later.
  • the automatic document feeder has a controlling means 200 shown in Fig. 6.
  • the controlling means 200 is constituted by a microcomputer which has a central processing unit (CPU) 201 performing operations according to a control program, a read-only memory (ROM) 202 storing the control program and a control map, a random access memory (RAM) 203 storing the results of operations and being capable of reading and writing, a timer 204, an input interface 205, and an output interface 206.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • ROM read-only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • the input interface 205 of the so constituted controlling means 200 receives detection signals from the safety switches SW1, SW2, SW3, the document setting switch SW4, the stopper position detecting means SW5, the reflector type optical detectors SW6, SW7, SW8, and the rotational amount detecting means FG1, FG2, FG3, while the output interface 206 puts out control signals to the electric motors M1, M2, M3, the solenoids SL1, SL3, the latch type solenoid SL2, and the electromagnetic clutch CL1.
  • the controlling means 200 is connected to a controlling means 210 for the electrostatic document copying machine 2, so that control signals are exchanged between both means.
  • To the controlling means 210 for the electrostatic document copying machine 2 is connected an operating means 220 and a display means 230. As shown in Fig.
  • the operating means 220 is placed on the top of a front portion of the electrostatic document copying machine 2, and includes operating keys for copying actions, such as a key for starting copying, a key for designating the number of copies, a key for designating copying both surfaces of the document, and a key for stopping copying. Through these keys, the operating means 220 enters copying information into the controlling means 210 for the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • the display means 230 is disposed, similar to the operating means 220, on the top of the front portion of the electrostatic document copying machine 2 and adjacent to the operating means 220 to show information on copying, information on troubles, and so forth.
  • Figs. 7 to 9 show a main routine
  • Fig. 10 shows a subroutine for primary paper feed
  • Fig. 11 shows a subroutine for secondary paper feed
  • Fig. 12 shows a subroutine for reversed paper feed.
  • the controlling means 200 checks at step S1 whether the safety switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 are all ON or not. That is, it will be dangerous if the automatic document feeder 4 is actuated while the feeder 4, the left end portion cover 30, and the right end portion cover 32 are open. This is a checking for prohibiting the actuation of the automatic document feeder 4 if any one of them is open. Thus, if any one of the safety switches SW1, SW2 and SW3 is OFF at step S1, the device 4 is put on standby until the cover is brought to the closed position. With all switches ON, the procedure goes to step S2 to make sure the document setting switch SW4 is ON, i.e., that documents are placed on the document bearing means 18.
  • step S1 is resumed based on the judgment that no document has been placed on the document bearing means 18.
  • the procedure goes to step S3 based on judgment that document have been placed on the document bearing means 18.
  • the controlling means 200 checks whether a copy start signal has been sent by the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • the copy start signal is sent by the controlling means 210 to the controlling means 200 when entered by the operator from the copy start key of the operating means 220. No receipt of the copy start signal means no need for copying, and results in the recovery of step 1.
  • step S4 Upon receipt of the copy start signal at step S3, the controlling means 200 goes to step S4 to check whether the stopper position detecting means SW5 is ON or not, i.e., whether the document stopper 84 is in the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3. If the documents 50 are placed on the document bearing means 18 and inserted onto the stationary plate 34 with the document stopper 84 not being situated at the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3, all of the documents 50 may reach the document separating means 60, resulting in the possibility for two or more of the documents to be sent at the same time.
  • step 4 is performed to check whether the document stopper 84 is in the operating position and whether the documents 50 have been set at a predetermined position of insertion. If the stopper position detecting means SW5 is not ON at step 4, the documents 50 are likely to reach the document separating means 60, resulting in the possibility for the simultaneous delivery of two or more of the documents. Thus, the controlling means 200 does not move on to a document sending-in action, but goes to step S5, indicating a jam alarm on the display means 230 via the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2. This prevents the simultaneous delivery of two or more of the documents which may occur if the documents 50 are placed on the document bearing means 18 and inserted onto the stationary plate 34 with the document stopper 84 not being situated at the operating position.
  • step S4 If the stopper position detecting means SW5 is ON at step S4, i.e., the document stopper 84 is situated at the operating position, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step 6.
  • the controlling means 200 drives the electric motor M2 in a normal rotational manner to actuate the conveying belt mechanism 100, and drives the electric motor M3 to actuate the reversing roller 134 and the discharge roller 148, and in addition, acts to discharge the document left placed on the transparent panel 8, if any.
  • the controlling means 200 also turns on the latch type solenoid SL2 at step S6 (the latch type solenoid energizes the attracting coil if it is pull the plunger, and energizes the separating coil if it is to separate the plunger; for convenience's sake, the attraction of the plunger is designated as ON, and the separation of the plunger as OFF, in the description that will follow). That is, the plunger of the latch type solenoid SL2 is attracted to bring the document stopper 84 to the retreat position shown by the solid line in Fig. 3. In addition to so actuating the electric motors M2 and M3 and the latch type solenoid SL2, the controlling means 200 sets the timer T at T1.
  • This set time, T1 has been set at, say, 100 msec. Then, the controlling means 200 checks whether the time, T0, that elapses after the setting of the timer T at T1 has reached the set time T1 (step 7). If the elapsing time T0 has not reached the set time T1, the controlling means 200 goes to step S8 to see whether the stopper position detecting means SW5 is OFF or not, i.e., whether the document stopper 84 is at the retreat position shown by the solid line in Fig. 3. If the stopper position detecting means SW5 is not OFF at step S8, step S7 is resumed to make checks until the elapsing time T0 reaches the set time T1.
  • the controlling means 200 prohibits the action of the document sending-in means 33, moving on to step S9.
  • the controlling means 200 shows the abnormality of the document stopper 84 on the display means 230 via the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2. From this display of abnormality, the operator can be aware that the latch type solenoid SL2 or the link mechanism 88 constituting the stopper driving means 87 is out of order. If the stopper position detecting means SW5 is OFF, the controlling means 200 goes to step S10 shown in Fig. 8, and clears the timer. It further proceeds to step PO to perform a subroutine for primary paper feed.
  • the controlling means 200 energizes the solenoid SL1 at step P1 to actuate the pressing plate 48 and make it press the top of the uppermost document of the documents 50 placed on the document bearing means 18 and inserted onto the stationary plate 34.
  • the controlling means 200 sets the timer T at T2.
  • the set time T2 is the time required from the issue of the energizing signal by the controlling means 200 to the solenoid SL1 until the placement of the pressing plate 48 on the document bearing means 18 and its pressing of the top of the uppermost document.
  • the set time T2 has been set, for example, at 100 msec.
  • step P2 After setting the timer T at T2, the controlling means 200 goes to step P2, and checks whether the time, T0, that elapses after the setting of the timer T at T2 has reached the set time T2. If the elapsing time T0 has not reached the set time T2, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby. If the elapsing time T0 has reached the set time T2, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step P3 based on the judgment that the documents 50 have been placed on the document bearing means 18 and reliably pressed by the pressing plate 48. At this step, it drives the electric motor M1.
  • Driving of the electric motor M1 results in the rotational driving of the forwarding roller 40, the paper feed roller 64 constituting the document separating means 60 together with the separating belt mechanism 66, and the driving roller 68 of the separating belt mechanism 66.
  • the lowermost document in the document layer placed on the document bearing means 18 and inserted onto the stationary plate 34 is fed to the document sending-in path 98.
  • the controlling means 200 sets the timer T at T3.
  • the set time T3 is the time required from the start of the conveyance of the document 50 until the passage of the front end of the document through the nip portion between the paper feed roller 64 and the separating belt mechanism.
  • the set time T3 has been set, for example, at 160 msec.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step P4, and checks whether the time, T0, that elapses after the setting of the timer T at T3 has reached the set time T3. If the elapsing time T0 has not reached the set time T3, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby. If the elapsing time T0 has reached the set time T3, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step P5 to deenergize the solenoid SL1. Upon deenergizing of the solenoid SL1, the pressure on the documents 50 laid on the document bearing means 18 is released.
  • the set time T4 is the time required for the second or later document deflected by its friction with the first document being conveyed to return to its original shape because the pressure by the pressing plate 48 is released.
  • the set time T4 has been set, for example, at 200 msec.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step P6, and checks whether the time, T0, that elapses after the setting of the timer T at T4 has reached the set time T4. If the elapsing time T0 has not reached the set time T4, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby. If the elapsing time T0 has reached the set time T4, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step P7 to energize the solenoid SL1 again.
  • the controlling means 200 moves on to step P8, checking whether the detector SW6 is ON or not, i.e., whether the front end of the document fed to the document sending-in path 98 has reached the detector SW6 or not. If the detector SW6 is not ON at step P8, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step P9 to deenergize the solenoid SL1, thereby releasing the pressure on the documents 50 by the pressing plate 48.
  • the controlling means 200 starts counting of pulse signals, PSA, from the rotational amount detecting means FG1 mounted on the electric motor M1.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step P10 to check whether the pulse signals PSA have reached the set number of pulses, PS1.
  • the set number of pulses PS1 corresponds to the amount of rotation of the electric motor M1 corresponding to the amount of conveyance of the document from the time of its front end passing along the detector SW6 until its contact with the nip portion of the resist roller pair 114 for its further slight bending.
  • the controlling means 200 is placed on standby to continue document conveyance. If the pulse signals PSA have reached the set pulse number PS1, a judgment is made that the front end of the document has been brought into contact with the nip portion of the resist roller pair 114. Based on this judgment, the electric motor M1 is put in the OFF state to stop the paper feeding action for the document. As a result of this primary paper feed, the document fed to the document sending-in path 98 by the forwarding roller 40 and the document separating means 60 has its front end contacted with the nip portion of the resist roller pair 114 put in the non-operating state. Thus, the primary paper feed comes to an end.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step Q0 to perform secondary paper feed.
  • the subroutine for the secondary paper feed will be described with reference to Fig. 11.
  • the controlling means 200 energizes the electromagnetic clutch CL1 mounted on the driving roller 116 of the resist roller pair 114 at step Q1. Once the electromagnetic clutch CL1 is energized, the electric motor M2 that has already been driven in the normal direction of rotation drives the driving roller 116 of the resist roller pair 114 rotationally. Hence, the document that has been fed to the nip portion of the resist roller pair 114 by the primary paper feed is carried toward the document conveying path 108 extending along the transparent panel 8 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • the controlling means 200 checks at step Q2 whether the detector SW6 disposed along the document sending-in path 98 is OFF or not, i.e., whether the rear end of the document has passed beside the detector SW6 or not. If the detector SW6 is not OFF, the controlling means 200 is put on standby. If the detector SW6 is OFF, the controlling means 200 moves on to step Q3 based on the judgment that the rear end of the document has passed beside the detector SW6.
  • This step is intended to make sure that a double-sided copying signal has been received from the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • This double-sided copying signal is entered by the operator into the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2 using the double-sided copying designation key of the operating means 220. Based on this input, the double-sided copying signal is sent from the controlling means 210 to the controlling means 200.
  • the controlling means 200 proceeds to step R0 to perform a subroutine for reversed paper feed. The subroutine for reversed paper feed will be described later.
  • step Q4 the controlling means 200 proceeds to step Q4 to start counting of pulse signals, PSB, from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 mounted on the electric motor M2 of the conveying belt mechanism 100.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step Q5 to check whether the pulse signals PSB have reached the set number of pulses, PS2.
  • the set number of pulses PS2 corresponds to the amount of rotation of the electric motor M2 corresponding to the amount of conveyance of the document from the site of the detector SW6 to the document setting standard position G in Fig. 2. If the pulse signals PSB have not reached the set pulse number PS2 at step Q5, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby to continue document conveyance.
  • the controlling means 200 moves on to step Q6 to switch off the electric motor M2, thereby stopping the action of the conveying belt mechanism 100. Simultaneously, the electromagnetic clutch CL1 is turned off, and the counting of the pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 is cleared. Then, the controlling means 200 starts counting of pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 again at step Q7. This is because the driving shaft of the electric motor M2 that has been switched off does not stop immediately, but slightly rotates by an inertial force.
  • the controlling means 200 After starting the recounting of pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 at step Q7, the controlling means 200 checks whether the number of pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 has become zero or not, i.e., whether the electric motor M2 has come to a halt without fail (step Q8). After making sure that the number of pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 has become zero at step Q8, the controlling means 200 goes to step Q9.
  • the controlling means 200 stores the number of pulses PS3 from the rotational amount detecting means FG2, obtained up to the time when the electric motor M2 has come to a halt without fail, i.e., the number of pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 has become zero, as the overrun in the random access memory (RAM) 203, and also clears the counting of the pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2. Then, at step Q10, the controlling means 200 drives the electric motor M2 reversely to actuate the conveying belt mechanism 100 reversely, and also starts counting pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 mounted on the electric motor M2.
  • the controlling means 200 After starting the counting of the pulse signals PSB from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 at step Q10, the controlling means 200 goes to step Q11 to check whether the pulse signals PSB have reached the pulse number PS3 corresponding to the overrun. If the pulse signals PSB have not reached the pulse number PS3 corresponding to the overrun at step Q11, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby to continue document conveyance. If the pulse signals PSB have reached the pulse number PS3 corresponding to the overrun, a judgment is made that the rear end of the document has arrived at the document setting standard position G. Based on this judgment, the controlling means 200 moves on to step Q12 to switch off the electric motor M2, thereby stopping the action of the conveying belt mechanism 100. The controlling means 200 also puts out a printing signal, i.e., an exposure ready signal, to the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • a printing signal i.e., an exposure ready signal
  • step R1 the controlling means 200 switches on the electric motor M3 to rotationally drive the reversing roller 134, and also turns on and energizes the solenoid SL3 which operates and controls the bifurcation controlling plate 144. Once the solenoid SL3 is energized, the bifurcation controlling plate 144 is brought to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 2.
  • the document to be conveyed by the conveying belt mechanism 100 and the reversing roller 134 is conveyed through the document conveying path 108 formed on the transparent panel 8 from the left-hand side (one end portion) to the right-hand side (the other end portion) in Fig. 2, and sent through the first document sending-out path 130 toward the document reversing path 142.
  • the controlling means 200 checks whether the document detector SW8 disposed along the reversing path 142 is ON or not, i.e., whether the front end of the document has reached the document detector SW8 or not (step R2).
  • the controlling means 200 If the document detector SW8 is not ON, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby. If the detector SW8 is ON, the controlling means 200 goes to step R3 to reversely drive the electric motor M2 of the conveying belt mechanism 100, thereby reversely actuating the conveying belt mechanism 100. At the same time, the controlling means 200 starts counting of pulse signals, PSC, from the rotational amount detecting means FG3 mounted on the electric motor M3 which drives the reversing roller 134. After starting the counting of the pulse signals PSC from the rotational amount detecting means FG3 at step R3, the controlling means 200 goes to step R4 to check whether the pulse signals PSC have reached the set number of pulses, PS4 (the first predetermined amount of conveyance).
  • the set pulse number PS4 has been set at the amount of document conveyance (pulse number) by the reversing roller 134 corresponding to a time from the start of reverse driving of the electric motor M2 of the conveying belt mechanism 100 until stabilization of its rotational speed.
  • the document thus conveyed by the reversing roller 134 is introduced to the right side (the other end portion) of the document conveying path 108 in Fig. 2, and conveyed toward the left-hand side (one end portion) by the conveying belt mechanism 100. If the pulse signals PSC have not reached the set pulse number PS4 at step R4, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby.
  • the controlling means 200 proceeds to step R5 to start the positioning control of the electric motor M2 of the conveying belt mechanism 100. Simultaneously, the controlling means 200 starts counting of pulse signals, PSB, from the rotational amount detecting means FG2 mounted on the electric motor M2.
  • the positioning control means a control by which when the front end of the document conveyed by the conveying belt mechanism approaches the document setting standard position G in Fig.
  • the rotational speed of the electric motor M2 is decreased, and when the pulse signals PSB have reached the set pulse number PS5 (the second predetermined amount of conveyance) and the electric motor M2 is turned off, it stops without fail so that the document will not overrun past the document setting standard position G owing to an inertial force.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step R6 to check whether the pulse signals PSB have reached the set number of pulses, PS5 (the second predetermined amount of conveyance).
  • the set pulse number PS5 is a pulse number corresponding to the amount of conveyance of the document by which the front end of the document that has been sent to the conveying belt mechanism 100 at the start of counting the pulse signals PSB is conveyed to the document setting standard position G by the conveying belt mechanism 100. If the pulse signals PSB have not reached the set pulse number PS5 at step R6, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby to continue document conveyance. If the pulse signals PSB have reached the set pulse number PS5, a judgment is made that the front end of the document has arrived at the document setting standard position G. Based on this judgment, the controlling means 200 moves on to step R7 to switch off the electric motor M2, thereby stopping the action of the conveying belt mechanism 100.
  • the controlling means 200 also puts out a printing signal, i.e., an exposure ready signal, to the controlling means 210 of the electrostatic document copying machine 2.
  • the controlling means 200 After performing the primary paper feed subroutine PO, secondary paper feed subroutine Q0, and reversed paper feed subroutine RO as described above, the controlling means 200 checks at step S11 whether the document setting switch SW4 is ON or not, i.e., whether the document is left on the document bearing means 18 or not. If the document setting switch SW4 is ON, the controlling means 200 sets a document flag (step S12) and performs the primary paper feed subroutine PO again. The primary paper feed subroutine PO is carried out during the exposure of the preceding document conveyed on the transparent panel 8. After performing the primary paper feed subroutine PO again, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step S13 as shown in Fig.
  • step S13 the controlling means 200 goes to step S14, where it drives the electric motor M2 in the normal direction of rotation to drive the conveying belt mechanism 100, and also drives the electric motor M3 to rotationally drive the reversing roller 134 and the discharge roller 148, thereby performing a discharge action for the document on the transparent panel 8 that has completed exposure.
  • the controlling means 200 moves on to step S15 to check whether the document detector SW7 disposed along the second document sending-out path 140 has become OFF after becoming ON, i.e., whether the rear end of the document conveyed to the second document sending-out path 140 has passed beside the detector SW7. If the detector SW7 has not become OFF after becoming ON, the controlling means 200 is placed on standby.
  • step S16 sets the timer T at T5.
  • This set time T5 is the time from the passage of the rear end of the document beside the document detector SW7 until its passage through the discharge roller 148. It has been set, for example, at 100 msec.
  • the controlling means 200 goes to step S17 to see if the time T0 elapsing after the rear end of the document passes beside the document detector SW7 has reached the set time T5. In case the elapsing time TO is less than the set time T5, the document discharge action is continued.
  • step S18 When the elapsing time TO is not less than the set time T5, a judgment is made that the rear end of the document has passed the discharge roller 148. Based on this judgment, the controlling means 200 goes to step S18, where it turns off the electric motor M3 to stop the operation of the reversing roller 134 and the discharge roller 148. The exposed document thus discharged from the discharge roller 148 is placed on the document discharge tray 20. Then, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step S19, where it checks if the document flag has been set or not. In case the document flag has been set, it judges the next document to have completed primary paper feed, and moves on to the secondary paper feed subroutine Q0. If no document flag has been set at step S19, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step S20.
  • the controlling means 200 switches off the electric motor M2 to terminate the action of the conveying belt mechanism 100. Subsequently, the controlling means 200 returns to step S1 to perform the aforementioned respective steps. In the absence of a document change signal at step S13, the controlling means 200 proceeds to step S21 to check whether a double-sided copying signal has been received or not. In case no double-sided copying signal has been received, it returns to step S13. If a double-sided copying signal has been received, it proceeds to step S22 to drive the electric motor M2 of the conveying belt mechanism 100 in the normal direction of rotation, and switch on the electric motor M3 which drives the reversing roller 134. This step is followed by the reversed paper feed subroutine RO.
  • step S23 based on the judgment that no document to be copied has been left on the document bearing means 18.
  • the document flag is cleared, and the latch type solenoid SL2 is switched off to actuate the plunger in the direction of separation, thereby bringing the document stopper 84 to the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3.
  • the controlling means 200 sets the timer T at T6 to check for trouble to the latch type solenoid SL2 and the link mechanism 88 that constitute the stopper driving means 87.
  • the set time T6 has been set at, say, 100 msec.
  • the controlling means 200 checks whether the time T0 elapsing after the setting of the timer T has reached the set time T6 (step S24). If the elapsing time TO is less than the set time T6, it goes to step S25 to see if the stopper position detecting means SW5 is ON or not, i.e., if the document stopper 84 is in the operating position shown by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3. If the stopper position detecting means SW5 is not ON at step S25, the controlling means returns to step S24, where it makes checking until the elapsing time TO reaches the set time T6.
  • step S26 the controlling means proceeds to step S26 to show on the display means 230 that the document stopper 84 is out of order. From this display of disorder, the operator can know that the latch type solenoid SL2 or the link mechanism 88 constituting the stopper driving means 87 is in trouble.
  • the document separating mechanism of the automatic document feeder may be constituted as described above.
  • the controlling means energizes the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means, actuates the forwarding roller, and actuates the document separating means to carry the document laid on the document bearing means.
  • the controlling means deenergizes the pressing mechanism of the forwarding means at least once for a predetermined time during a period from the arrival of the front end of the document at the document separating means until its arrival at the resist roller pair, thereby releasing the pressure on the documents laid on the document bearing means.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Exposure Or Original Feeding In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
EP95113247A 1994-09-01 1995-08-23 Automatic document feeder Expired - Lifetime EP0699965B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP20876094A JP3191078B2 (ja) 1994-09-01 1994-09-01 自動原稿搬送装置
JP208760/94 1994-09-01

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0699965A1 EP0699965A1 (en) 1996-03-06
EP0699965B1 true EP0699965B1 (en) 1999-03-03

Family

ID=16561638

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95113247A Expired - Lifetime EP0699965B1 (en) 1994-09-01 1995-08-23 Automatic document feeder

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US5576823A (ru)
EP (1) EP0699965B1 (ru)
JP (1) JP3191078B2 (ru)
KR (1) KR960011584A (ru)
CN (1) CN1138710A (ru)
DE (1) DE69508007T2 (ru)
TW (1) TW275120B (ru)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH1031329A (ja) * 1996-07-17 1998-02-03 Mita Ind Co Ltd 自動原稿搬送装置
JP3403305B2 (ja) * 1997-01-17 2003-05-06 京セラミタ株式会社 自動原稿搬送装置
DE10006037A1 (de) * 2000-02-10 2001-08-16 Basf Ag Verfahren zur Herstellung von Polyoxymethylenen
US6334043B1 (en) * 2000-03-09 2001-12-25 Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha Automatic document-feeding apparatus
DE102004054629A1 (de) 2004-11-11 2006-05-18 Basf Ag Basische Desaktivatoren bei der POM-Herstellung
FR2926800B1 (fr) * 2008-01-30 2010-03-26 Neopost Technologies Dispositif de selection optimisee d'articles de courrier
JP5939820B2 (ja) * 2012-01-31 2016-06-22 キヤノン株式会社 読取装置

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5344134A (en) * 1992-11-11 1994-09-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3618933A (en) * 1969-11-10 1971-11-09 Burroughs Corp Card feed device
US5096177A (en) * 1989-04-26 1992-03-17 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Recycling automatic document feeder for feeding documents of various size for use with a copier
US5120039A (en) * 1989-09-20 1992-06-09 Konica Corporation Sheet sorter with guide moving device and separate moving device for feeding means mounted on end of guide
US5465949A (en) * 1993-06-24 1995-11-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Automatic sheet feeding device with selectively applied pressure member

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5344134A (en) * 1992-11-11 1994-09-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Automatic document feeder for an image forming apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0699965A1 (en) 1996-03-06
KR960011584A (ko) 1996-04-20
JP3191078B2 (ja) 2001-07-23
DE69508007T2 (de) 1999-10-21
JPH0873057A (ja) 1996-03-19
US5576823A (en) 1996-11-19
DE69508007D1 (de) 1999-04-08
TW275120B (ru) 1996-05-01
CN1138710A (zh) 1996-12-25

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